Remember, linking probes ups your % of what you earn, also if you have booster probes and duplicator probes, they also up your earnings. They are best dropped near sight seeing spots because yes , WHERE you drop your probes is also important.
Also keep in mind mining probes drop your research probe %. Take your mining probes out.
Skell spoiler warning
( And if you think 15k is hard, wait until you try to get Ares 90. It's one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in a game ever).